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Coffee. Doughnuts. Toast. Rose’s is not the first diner to offer these basics. But the cousins who own this boxcar-size gem on Detroit’s East Side do it all with a thoughtfulness that other greasy spoons can’t muster. It all begins with the pillowy loaves of white bread, baked fresh each morning, sliced thickly, and toasted on the griddle to form the foundation for oversize sandwiches, layered with anything from fried eggs to herb-braised rabbit, and served on charmingly mismatched vintage china. Don’t torture yourself trying to save room for dessert: Just order a “crybaby”—a silly-big glazed potato doughnut—as soon as you sit down at the counter.

What to order: crybaby, egg sandwich, any of the “house bakes”

We love: the owners’ commitment to paying employees a living wage; tips are distributed evenly among the staffClick HERE To See All 50 Nominees!